Sphere by Michael Crichton

Title: Sphere

Author: Michael Crichton

Publisher: Ballantine Books 1987

Genre: Scifi

Pages: 371

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal - Leftover from 2025; Cover Lover - Does not include the words “and” or “the”

Where I Got It: Library

A classic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Crichton, Sphere is a bravura demonstration of what he does better than anyone: riveting storytelling that combines frighteningly plausible, cutting-edge science and technology with pulse-pounding action and serious chills. The gripping story of a group of American scientists sent to the ocean floor to investigate an alien ship, only to confront a terrifying discovery that defies imagination, Sphere is Crichton prime - truly masterful fiction from the ingenious mind that brought us Prey, State of Fear, and Jurassic Park.

It had been probably 20 years since I had read Sphere. I had decided that 2025 was the year to reread but never got around to it. Finally accomplished it this week. This is definitely in the top of Crichton books. It’s no Jurassic Park. or The Andromeda Strain, but it’s still a very solid scifi adventure story. Crichton is definitely an ideas man with his books. I don’t come for the characters or the dialogue. I come for the interesting questions he raises through adventure stories. In this one, we get an interesting take on reality and power with some great twists and turns. J and I rewatched the movie. till holds up!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Timeline by Michael Crichton

Title: Timeline

Author: Michael Crichton

Publisher: Alred A. Knopf 1999

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 489

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Book Club - Set in War other than WWI or WWII

In an Arizona desert, a man wanders in a daze, speaking words that make no sense. Within twenty-four hours he is dead, his body swiftly cremated by his only known associates. Halfway around the world, archaeologists make a shocking discovery at a medieval site. Suddenly they are swept off to the headquarters of a secretive multinational corporation that has developed an astounding technology. Now this group is about to get a chance not to study the past but to enter it. And with history opened up to the present, the dead awakened to the living, these men and women will soon find themselves fighting for their very survival—six hundred years ago.

Somehow the Nerdy Bookish Friends group picked two medieval time travel novels back to back. It’s going to make for an interesting discussion I think. I can’t say that really enjoyed either one of the books, but I might have enjoyed Timeline a bit more than Doomsday Book. Like all Crichton novels, this one takes a while to get going, but then we are dumped into pretty decent non-stop action. I was okay with the larger storyline and the intrigue associated with ITC. I was even okay with the “twists” that I saw coming a mile away. My biggest problem with this book were the characters. They were terrible. The only one that I actually like was Marek. The rest are whiny people that I cannot believe are competent professionals. And don’t get me started on the “romance” between Kate and Chris. Terrible! Makes absolutely no sense and really does Kate a disservice as Chris is the whiniest of the bunch. Despite not liking the book, I’m looking forward to discussing with my online book club. We always have great discussions about books!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Title: Jurassic Park

Author: Michael Crichton

Publisher: Ballantine Books 1990

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer TBR; COYER

An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them—for a price.
 
Until something goes wrong. . .

I read this novel way back in sometime in the 1990s. I had hoped that the book would hold up to my memories. Thankfully it really does. The story is nonstop action from the moment Chapter 1 starts. We get to meet all the intriguing characters and set up the island. Of course, we all know that things are going to go sideways very soon. Once all the different parts of the system start to fail, everything kicks into high gear. While the book is better than the movie in almost every aspect, I did forget just how much I dislike Lex as a character. She is just terrible. The movie changed the dynamic and definitely improved the characters. Otherwise, I forgot just how much I did like Ian Malcolm. Overall, I love this book so much.

Next up on the TBR pile: